David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to address the Cathaoirleach first. It is up to the committee and to the members of the committee to determine our business and to determine how we interact with witnesses. We sought legal advice in relation to our engagement with the whistleblower precisely because we wanted due process and I would say to the witness to be less defensive in relation to that. Also, we have no interest in whatever future complaints may or may not be made against RTÉ by the Department. They are not our business. Our business is to get down to the issues which were brought to our attention as a consequence of this programme. I say that to the Cathaoirleach, first of all, and not directly to Mr. Watt.

I want to get straight to Mr. Watt's opening statement, in which he stated that "the Department of Health has never gathered sensitive medical and educational information on children involved in court cases in the manner portrayed by RTÉ". First, what does Mr. Watt mean by "the manner portrayed by RTÉ"?